“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31 NLT
“People give too much worry with too little wonder at the Almighty God.”
My thoughts today are about “adversity and opposition.”
Ever have times when you felt like everything was working against you? Everyone can feel like that on some occasion. Be careful; that’s when you could easily begin feeling sorry for yourself, but that is a major waste of your time and emotion. Life is not always fair, and the winds of circumstance are not always favorable. Time and circumstance happen to one and all.
Your success in life is not the good fortune of favorable events. Everyone will have their share of laughter and tears; so will you! The tears are usually the result of troubling times and troublesome people. Be advised; Jesus warned that those experiences have the power to steal the word of God from your heart. Read Matthew 13:20-21 NIV. Jesus called such moments, “tribulation and persecution.” Much of your success and well-being comes from how successfully you handle such times and people.
When adversity – big or small – seems to beset you or opposition seems to array against you, ask yourself the same question Paul asked, “If God is for us, can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31 NLT. Let me first note what that verse is not saying, even if I wish it were. The Bible does not promise you exemption from challenging times and cantankerous people. In fact, Paul is addressing exactly such times.
Paul asks some probing questions that expose the raw nerves, yet persevering faith, of a man that experienced the best and worst of everyday life. Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT/6:4-10 NKJV. In his letter to Christ-followers in Rome, he asks, “Who dares accuse us . . who then will condemn us . . who can separate us . . does it mean He no longer loves us?” Romans 8:33-35 NLT. What questions do you ask, and what does your heart answer in response?
You too may feel the sting of those who accuse you, believing that adversity and opposition is the just result of some wrong that has angered God, just as Job’s friends suggested of him, or those who loudly or privately condemn you while you are just trying to survive, or those who would say that God has withdrawn Himself from you and the pain and loneliness you feel is Heaven’s reaction, or maybe even the nagging questions of your own heart, doubting God’s love. Don’t waste valuable time believing any of those.
The Apostle Paul was establishing this simple truth: resting safely and confidently in God’s care, adversity and opposition that is against you is never an equal counterpart to God who is unchangingly and altogether for you. It is sad to have so much worry, with too little wonder at the Almighty God, who is ever at your side!
Here is Paul’s answer, and I hope it will be yours: “No, in spite of all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us. And I am convinced nothing can ever separate us from His love.” Romans 8:37-38 NLT.
My prayer for you today is that you find your rest and refuge in Christ alone.